Harriman State Park Hike Trip report

“Twinkle toes did a face plant..it was beautiful....crooked sunglasses and everything....lol”

“Twinkle, now I'm really sorry we weren't there for the next day. The 'top heavy tumble' sounded priceless!!!


And BTW, Crack Puppy is a cute name... lol j/k”

“heh heh... I have a picture from this trip of "Crack Puppy" that will prove the name fits. I'll post it later.

Good lord Pete - you must have been in a Beatles induced coma!! Didn't you get suspicious at the $3.00 (or is 4 or 5 now) toll at the TZ?? Plus, the TZ ain't like no Delaware River bridge, it's 3 friggin miles long! LMAO!! And to think I congratulated you for not getting lost this trip.

Wow, great trip reports and the pics are super. I love your sky shots Crack Puppy....errr Artex. Ranger strip search, that's TOO funny!

Amy - did you have to show the pic of me tumbling off the rock? You could have just said I made it to the top, but noooooooo.

Dare was right about the TT Bar and Grill. I thought I was being very novel by bringing a bunch of hot chocolate and kahlua. Yeah right, I think everybody but Pete brought something. Jack Daniels, Baileys, peach schnaupps (spel?), and even Fosters beer. What a bunch of lushes!!

It was, as usual, a fun weekend with the crazy nor'easters. It was great reuniting with the Adventurists and the G's, and it was a pleasure meeting the famous Ent, Treebeard. He's not as tall as I thought.

My pics to be posted later. Look for Crack Puppy! I wish I had a picture of our zealous waitress peeking through the window at us while on a butt break. That was a riot, and it didn't improve her disposition having Twinkle Toes smiling and waving frantically at her.”

“Interestink, ... most interestink!”

“Here's mine-

My Pics

I might have to break down and start paying webshots. I'm running out of space there...

Anyway, the trip started not so early Saturday morning, which was sorta nice for a change- Since it was only in Harriman, it was a nice short drive to the trailhead, and even with getting a little lost, Twinkle Toes and I arrived at the trailhead to find Artex, the Adventurists, Pennsy, AmyG and Dare, Sirpete and the masked marauder waiting. (The masked marauder was a little camera shy, but it didn't really matter. He seemed like a very disagreeable person, he and Sirpete got into a heated argument which nearly ended in violence. He left screaming threats over his shoulder.) Soon after that, Maple, Treebeard and Moondancer showed up, and after some gear arranging and shuttling of cars here and there, we we all headed out.

Dare, AmyG and the Adventurists took a different route to the shelter with a gear sled full of firewood (Thanks again, guys!) while the rest of us made our way through what looked like a maze of trails on the map. The snow was nice and dry, although it was a little slippery at times- I had my crampons with me, and was tempted to put them on at first, but it turned out that the trail was relatively flat. Artex, Pennsy and Sirpete sped on ahead while the rest of us kept a decent pace in the rear. Treebeard showed true guts hiking with a bone spur, carrying Maple's pack a good deal of the way. What a guy!

There were plenty of animal tracks along the trail, I've never seen such a heavily populated area before- I don't think I actually saw any animals, though. Pure speculation here, but since Fartex was ahead of us, and there were plenty of trees that had been stripped of their bark like something out of the X-Files, perhaps the wildlife knew better than to hang around.

We reached the Lemon Squeezer after a while, where Pennsy, Artex and Sirpete were waiting- Well, they made a wrong turn, but hey, the squeezer was fun to tackle, well worth the tiny detour.

Back on the trail, the fast group took off once more, and the slack packers got a little worried about direction at a couple of points. There was a turn we should have made and didn't, but couldn't figure out where the hell it was, so we ended up taking a scenic loop- Treebeard's foot was starting to give him problems, but he kept on mowing down the snow anyway. We reached an area where the trees had been cleared out by a forest fire, and the trail plateaued after a slight climb- This was just the sight we all needed to lift spirits- The sun was setting, we were hiking in this semi barren area with great views all around. I took plenty of pics, but couldn't get enough of them into the damn webshots album.

Soon after, Artex and Pennsy had backtracked to meet up with us- Crack Puppy is definitely a good description of Artex's appearance. They must have been smoking something, since Pennsy was up on a hill with a nice sunset and- Guess what- He didn't have his camera with him. The book of revelations actually lists that as one of the horsemen of the apocalypse, you know. There's famine, death, pestilence, Pennsy without a camera, etc. etc. I kept an eye out for fire and brimstone the rest of the hike to the shelter. (It would have been nice, really. I would have stuck some down my pants.)

When we got to the shelter, it was getting dark and was really damn cold. The others had a fire going, God bless their souls. I cried like a baby, icicles of joy quickly melting into the snot from my nose. Thank God no one got that pic. This was where Maple, Treebeard and Moondancer parted ways with us, which I have to say was probably the best idea. I know Maple wanted to stay originally, but the cold would have murdered her asthma. She was missed around the fire, as were the others- I have to say, those guys are all pretty damn hardcore. I didn't want to take another step that night, but there they went, without much of a break at all, off to their cars.

The stoves and the booze appeared as if out of nowhere, I swear I have never had a better meal or mixed more likker on the trail than I did that night. I got so drunk, I took a picture of Pennsy's crotch while trying to take pictures of the booze- Anyone who wants to use it as wallpaper is more than welcome. Full sized posters are gonna cost you, though. I'll see what I can do about getting it signed. I had a great time in the shelter, and my vote goes to Twinkle for the best hot chocolate. Sorry Pennsy. The rest of the night was freezing cold- Which later started a discussion between Twinkle Toes and myself- Okay, if you put a -20 degree bag inside another -20 degree bag, there is a mathematically logical way to figure out what the combination would be rated to, right? I mean, I don't know what it is, and I run out of fingers and toes pretty quick- But what happens if you put a 0 degree bag inside another 0 degree bag? We came to the scary conclusion that it probably somehow creates a black hole of some sort. This sobering thought kept me awake most of the night.

Sunday morning came, another fire was lit inside the shelter (Thanks to Sirpete) I proceeded to cook my breakfast, which consisted of two third degree burns wrapped in foil. They were quite tasty- If you've ever eaten Chinese food, just imagine tipping the food out of the carboard containers and burning the containers to a crisp. Sprinkle some pepper on it, and voila. Your tongue tastes like the inside of a boiler all day long.

Twinkle had a hard time re-stuffing her monster sleeping bag that morning, and decided to give me a facewash with snow. Somehow, that helped the situation- Everyone got packed up and headed out- The hike back to the shuttled cars was really short, a little too short, but this is where Twinkle had her alleged face plant. No one got any pictures of it, and in my book that means it never happened. I have failed as a photographer once more.

After getting to the cars, some of the cooler members of the group went out to eat at the Orange Top diner, where we stayed all day, ate free steaks and watched the Bucs on their 100 foot television from the comfort of the Jacuzzi.”

“LOL

I am busting a nut laughing at work!!!!!!

Corp gets the vote for most comical trail report!

Some guy is looking at me funny though my window at work since I am bymeslf and laughing out loud.

Probably thinks I cracked.


LOL...you said "Fartex"!”

“Hey!!!!

You got a picture of the waitress-nazi!

Did you ask her permission first?

You better move to a 3rd world country now!”

“LMAO! Corporal dude, as always your trip reports crack me up! That one photo of you walking down the trail with the sky in the background is awesome.

By the way, Twinkles, glad you were able to hear me play the butt trumpet when you, Corporal Nasty and I were the only ones left at the shelter Saturday night. In many Native American cultures, it's a sign of acceptance when a man farts in front of a woman. You should honored.”

“No Eggs for you! 1 Year!!”

“No tea for you! 1 year!!!”

“I want me tea DAMN IT!!!!

I should of barfed on her!

Who the hell goes out to smoke when they have a full table to wait on?

Did someone grab her ass or something?”

“Shhhhh, dont tell AmyG”

“Maybe she had just waited on the HMWHC?”

“I see she hasn't posted at all today....

Left her up there didn't you.

You must of been really upset about that hot chocolate!”

“lol....she's mixing a 10 gallon drum of it now.”

“sigh...a woman's work is never started done.

LMAO @ corp!

Hey, Artex couldn't have nuthin' on certain people who had CHILI for dinner! I swear, the global warming effect around the perimeter of our neighboring tent almost washed the others away in the ensuing tidal wave!
oh, the humanity...
;D”

“I recall a bright flash of light and boom sound somewhat like a plane breaking the sound barrier...
Then there was giggling and someome exlaimed, with pride I might add, "DID YOU HEAR THAT???"”

“Thanks for cleaning the doodie out of your shoe when I was cooking....”

“I claim credit for the Fartex nickname.

Labor day weekend, at the trail junction between Algonquin and Iroquois. Not enough breeze that day. :-)”

“great pics, Nasteee! (wish my computer wasn't so durn sloooow!)”

“He who has gas, laughs last!”

“No, its "He who laughs last...didn't get the joke."”

“And you guys wondered why I pitched my tent so far away??

Awesome trip report Corp!! And thanks for the lovely crotch shot. Sheesh!! (psst.. you were supposed to enhance it.)

Anywho, I have my pics posted and be sure to check out "Crack Puppy." View it at full size.

Pennsy's Pics”

“Oh, and in response to one of the Corp's pics... Never EVER say anything bad about the Irish around this croud. Yikes!!!”

“nice pics, Pennsy! It was great to get out for the weekend. (wish it could have been longer...)”

“Great Pics, everyone! I finally got the chance to look through them all- I had a great time, looking forward to the next one...”

“Sweet pics, Pennsy! :-)”

“Nice Pics as Usual Mr. Pennsy!!!”

“Great pix, Pennsy and Corp!!! And as for trip reports, you outdid yourself, Nasty Man...
And ditto to what Adventurist said, a lawyer (working his second day here, I may add) just walked by as I was laughing uncontrollably at the report. Well, let him think I'm nuts. Maybe he won't be brave enough to approach me and give me work to do. Let me tell you, all you folks, collectively (plus the beautiful scenery) made a rough and painful hike really worthwhile for me. Thanx! And I demand that we meet again.”

“let's all get together for drinks!

off to work I go now......”

“Didnt you have enough on the trip Twinkle Toes?....lol”

“I think Dare encouraged you a little too much, in order to facilitate that faceplant. He's just glad it wasn't HIM this time!

Oh, but wait 'til FYAO!! muahahaaaaa”

“I am pumped for FYAO!!!

oonga boonga, cold cold cold!”

“Artex, stop that! You'll get your single digits, no worries...
any lower than that and we really will freeze our a$$es off!

Hmmm...maybe that's any idea to be posted on the weight loss thread!!
>:D”

“Yeah, but I want negative temps!! :-)”

“Shut UP!!! Atleast you have the super warming powers of your alter-ego FARTEX to help you out when Artex is in trouble!!!!

Generating super 400 degree balsts in a single sound!!!!

(in the background you here Superhero theme music drowned out by farting noises)”

“Yeah, you should get a wiff of the air when I unzip my bag in the morning. The gas just sits there all night and ages like a fine wine.”

“Yeah.

Like a fine wine you could use a cork.”

“LOL!”

“Wait a minute....in Artex's defense, Im pretty sure I heard a few bugle calls coming from the Adverturist tent. I dont think I ever heard snow wimper like that....lol”

“Are you sure that wasn't Mrs. Adventurist?”

“Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "when the tent is a rockin'..."

heheheh”

“Hawg ressler
Fartex
Crack Puppy
Jerky Boy
Purveyor of 'The Thing'
Santartex

He's what ya call a well-rounded guy.

BTW, Fartex, my 82-year-old mother says, "Better out than in!"”

“LMAO @ Geobeet!! And what you guys are writing on the Trail Talk Saga thread is absoulutely hilarious! My coworkers think I'm schizo because I keep laughing at my desk.. :-P”

“I dont think it was the Mrs. I saw the Emergency crews performing CPR on her. Something about a chemical induced coma?”

“Artex be careful in those negative temps. It probably was -19 with the wind chill hiking Sunday. I took my glove off for about 5-10 minutes to eat. It was cold, but not too bad. Put my glove back on and in the time it took to put my pack on and start back on the trail, my hand felt frozen. I could hardly open my handwarmers and by the time I was putting my glove w/handwarmers back on, I couldn't feel my fingers to put them in the fingers of my glove. Got out another pair of gloves and in a few minutes I felt the pain of warming up. The tips of my fingers are still tingly. Next time it's that cold I'll start the hadwarmers as soon as I stop.

On our second uphill climb I was having a hard time breathing and realized it was because the holes in my facemask were frozen. I had to keep pulling it down so I could breathe and my glove would freeze to the face mask. I could only keep my facemask down for so long, because my cheeks would start to freeze. When I got back to the car I couldn't get my face mask off because it was frozen around my neck. I always bring extra everything, but next time I'm bringing extra face masks.

I joke about freezing my eyballs, but when it came time that I had to thaw my eyelashes with my fingers so I could open my eyes, it was time to go back. Never will I forget my goggles again.

One funny thing was, I usually hike hot so I wear very little - most winter hikes I wear sports bra, one shirt and lined windpants - that's it (well, socks, gloves, ear band, boots, lol). This time I had on two shirts and started out with the usual lined windpants, longjohns in my pack. I had one of those "WAHOO! F___ ..." moments once I'd stripped down to my underwear so I could put those longjohns on. I think the expression I used once dressed again was, "almost as good as sex!" my butt was soooo cold and those long johns felt sooo good!

Everything that was covered was fine.

I just talked with another guy who got frostbite skiing last weekend and it dawned on me that probably my hand had a little more than superficial frostbite.”

“But it was FUN!
LOL”

“LOL @ Twigeater! Thanks for the words of warning and sharing the experience. Reading that makes me want to experience it even more, but of course I'd be careful. I've been learning a lot here with winter backpacking these past few months, and each trip the temps gets colder and colder. I'm confident I'll be ready for them negative temps.. bring it!!! :-)”

“LOL, I know you will be, and you will love it - have FUN!”